A little Italian Fresco in my Entrance Hall

I was so moved by the Italian Fresco in our Monestary in Orvieto... I knew I wanted to paint it or part of it.

About 18 months ago I started a painting on the largest canvas I have ever worked on (1.5m tall and 1m wide).  When I got back to Cape Town, almost a year ago - I immediately painted over it because I had moved on from that piece... my idea was to paint something on it this year.  Well this year is almost over and it's been lying here for that long.  As Italy was a bit unexpected - I would never have come up with the idea of painting a fresco on this big canvas... But how perfect.  What a beautiful way for me to have a memory of my time there. 





This gives you a good idea of the size... Love painting this big.

I didn't mean to start it today. I woke up early before everyone else, something I haven't been able to do since before my trip.  And before I knew it I found myself standing in front of my canvas with my pencil and eraser in hand and I was drawing my fresco.  While the image was still fresh in mind, I grabbed my oils and got started.  Ahhh what a beautiful way to spend my morning.

Where I am leaving it today... Sadly these pics don't do it justice...
I am so excited by this piece!!!

Back in the Studio...

I am finally back in my studio after two weeks out.  I have been busy with work and month end and catching up with life in general...  I have been working so hard to get everything sorted so that I can get back into #openstudioworkshop this weekend.

I worked on this last night... finally finishing this piece... and loving every moment of being back in my studio.

Another Italian Painting

I drew this up in Italy on my last day there and I have been dying to start painting her.  My reference is incredible and I'm totally inspired with this piece.  I am trying to be diligent with not starting new paintings until I am finished other ones because coming back to an unfinished piece can be as tough as starting a new piece sometimes... So I have been patient...

Can't wait to finish her dress... have some ideas.  I have called her Katherine... some people in the Open Studio Workshop group said she looks like Katherine Heburn.  I loved that.  Katherine is English but Katherina is Italian... So I thought it kind of apt.  Will keep you posted.

Sooooo.... I am home!!!

I have finally found enough energy to sit down and download my pictures and start talking about my trip. I have no idea where to start... describing my journey, my experience and our time in Orvieto and Rome. It was so special... I am afraid my words won't do it justice. I also have to find a way to order the pictures and share them in a way that makes you experience what we did, with me. I took over 1200 pictures... I was trying so hard to capture the essence and magnitude of this beautiful place. Historically and visually aside... our time in the classroom studio was everything I could have hoped for and more. The new friendships that were made were such a delightful surprise. I feel like something deep inside of me has changed... for the better.

I am still fighting some exhaustion and a bug that I picked up on my way home... so I am sure I will be back to normal in this next week especially as I find my way back to life as I know it and back into my studio with so much inspiration...

Watch this space.

#InMyStudio - I found a little Peace...

 It's Misty's recommendation on how to mix skin tones using acrylic paints.  Of course, I adapted them to my oils and I am so stoked with the outcome. I love this formula... and I will definitely be using it again.  I also used 100% Cotton Canvas paper and it was tough to work on but the outsome was so satisfying.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do with these pieces that I am learning with esp. without a background.  Which got me thinking...  So I finished off the background and her dress and I am so chuffed - cos I am going to try and sell her in my Etsy Shop.  Janny in Canada asked me what I have named her - but I hadn't yet and asked her to do so.  She named her Peace. I love it!

I am happy!

I know happiness is an emotion and can be fleeting.  An ever-moving target... but right now, right this very moment, today - I am happy.  I think I am quite a serious person and have been for most of my life so it isn't something I have felt all my life and although I have had moments of deep happiness - I can probably count them.  I am talking about the happiness that makes you giddy, crazy heart on fire happy, kind of happiness.  Or is that JOY.  Whatever it is,  I haven't always been #brave enough to say it out loud that "I am happy" in case it evades me and I have wanted to silently hang onto those moments because they are mine and I value them so deeply but today I am being #brave and I want to shout it out loud and if it evades me today, I am confident that tomorrow I will continue to seek it out.

What's completely taking me by surprise is that I am finding it in the small things, the simple things at the moment... like going for a run outside this morning before work, with the mountain as my backdrop.  I love it.  I adore my girls' schools so much and seeing them this happy and thriving has healed such a big part of my heart.  I am so grateful that school is in it's rightful place this year... I think for the first time ever.  And I have to tell you - I am loving how that feels right now.  I am loving how choosing simplicity this year as a life choice has brought me so much peace and inner joy.  Uncomplicating the clutter of my life, my schedule and my emotions has truly changed my life on every level.

Peace

It was last year when I was sitting in my art lesson with the paintbrush in hand with the lingering smell of linseed oils... I had such a deep sense of joy in what I was doing and it was a joy that I had never felt doing anything else before... it was then that I knew I wanted to paint fulltime.  I wasn't sure it was possible but I knew it wasn't something I wanted to do once a week anymore.  It was something I wanted to do all the time and it was something I wanted to feel all the time.  I climbed into bed last night after finishing Peace, a little painting I have been working on that I realized I had made some form of art everyday this week.  Making art daily has made my heart deeply happy.  I guess that's how it is meant to feel when you are doing something you love everyday.

I feel like I have found something today.  A truth perhaps... That finding and walking in what we were deeply called to do - brings about a deep sense of joy, a knowing and maybe even a sense of belonging.

#InMyStudio - So moved by this piece...

I was petrified and in this instance I almost gave up but I am so chuffed that I pushed through.  Sometimes it's disgusting and scary.  It's hard for me to explain it fully. I love the skin undertones in this piece...

Again - I can't tell you how much I am learning in this process.

I was so emotionally moved this morning.  It's honestly been such a journey to get here and I know I am only just beginning but I feel in many ways this is exactly what I have been searching for this year... with my art.  I am so blown away that I actually did this.  I hope I will continue to learn and continue to grow in this process.

Full of complete gratitude today!